Inflating mechanism adjustable for high or low pressure ranges



Jan. 20, 1953 w. P. DALRYMPLE 2,625,949

INFLATING MECHANISM ADJUSTABLE FOR HIGH 0R LOW PRESSURE RANGES Filed Feb. 5, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l ZZZ JanVZO, 1953 w P. DALRYMPLE 2,625,949

INF'LIATING MECHANISM ADJUSTABLE FOR HIGH OR LOW PRESSURE RANGES Filed Feb. 5, 1948 5 Sheets-$heet 2 wmmg 105 Jan. 20, 1953 w, P, DALRYMPLE 2,625,949

INFLATING MECHANISM ADJUSTABLE FOR HIGH 0R LOW PRESSURE RANGES Filed Feb. s, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WAHMW/ l 1953 w. P. DALRYMPLE ,62

INFLATING MECHANISM ADJUSTABLE FOR HIGH OR LOW PRESSURE RANGES Filed Feb. 5, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 510 315 Z06 .415 122 0; 3 7 j? K? Jan. 20, 1953 w. P. DALRYMPLE 2,625,949

INFLATING MECHANISM ADJUSTABLE FOR HIGH OR LOW PRESSURE RANGES Filed Feb. 5, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 20, 1953 INFLATING MECHANISM ADJUSTABLE FOR HIGH R LOW PRESSURE RANGES William P. Dalrymple, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to American Brake Shoe Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application February 3, 1948, Serial No. 6,102

21 Claims. 1

This invention relates to air service devices of the type adapted to deliver compressed air to a receptacle and, more particularly, to air service devices of the type which, when the pressure in the receptacle increases to a predetermined pressure, the air service device is automatically rendered inoperative to deliver further air to the receptacle. 1

Air service devices of the general nature to which my invention pertains have been heretofore known to those skilled in the art and have been illustrated and described in previously issued patents such as for example the United States Letters Patent No. Re. 19,201 granted to A. Penn on June 5, 1934 and United States Letters Patent No. 1,918,612, granted to A. Penn on July 18, 1933. Air service devices of this general nature are especially well adapted for use in automobile service stations, and the like, wherein they have commonly been used for inflating vehicle tires and other similar uses.

In air service devices of this general character there is normally an air service hose for feeding air from a pressure source to a receptacle, and a control mechanism adapted to be manually operated to set an indicating mechanism to a predetermined pressure reading, the control mechanism being effective, when the pressure in the receptacle exceeds the pressure shown on the indicating mechanism, to automatically shut off the device to thereby render the device inoperative to feed further air to the receptacle. Indicating mechanisms used in devices of this character, to afford the aforementioned visual indication of the predetermined pressure in the receptacle at which the air service device will automatically shut off, have customarily embodied a reference member such as, for example, a dial calibrated in pounds of pressure, and an indicating member such as, for example, a pointer, the dial and pointer being movable relative to each other in accordance with the adjustment of the control mechanism embodied in the air service device, to thereby indicate the pressure setting of the control mechanism.

' As previously mentioned, the air service devices heretofore known to the art have been previously adapted for use in filling stations and the like for inflating relatively high-pressure receptacle such as, for example, automobile tires. However, it has become desirable that automobile service stations, and the like, be equipped to inflate not only receptacles such as, for example, automobile tires and the like, to relatively high pressures of thirty pounds and more, but also that they be equipped to inflate receptacles such as, for example, seat cushions and the like, to relatively low pressures of, for example, from zero to eight pounds.

In the inflation of such low-pressure receptacles it obviously is important that the air service be so constructed that it may be accurately set to deliver the desired pressure within relatively narrow limits, undercharging of low-pressure receptacles such as seat cushions being undesirable because of the resultant discomfort of the passengers, and over-charging of such receptacles being undesirable because the cushion would then be made too hard for desired comfort and, in addition, because of the danger that strain caused by over-inflation might cause the receptacle to burst or be otherwise damaged.

I have found that it is impractical to use the air service devices heretofore known in the art for inflating both high pressure receptacles and low pressure receptacles of the aforementioned nature, because of the inherent characteristics of those devices. Thus, for example, I have found that the dials or other indicating mechanisms used on air service devices heretofore known are not adapted to afford suificiently accurate readings for properly setting an air service device to inflate low-pressure receptacles.

One of the principal reasons that the air service devices heretofore known to the art are not adapted to afford sufliciently accurate readings for properly setting air service devices to inflate low pressure receptacles is that the aforementioned dials, or the like, of the indicating mechanisms must, of course, be kept within practical limits as to size, and it has been found that in air service devices constructed in the manner heretofore known, if the indicating dials are made large enough to embody sumciently fine calibrations to afford a practical means for indicating the lower range of pressures used in inflating seat cushions and the like, the same dials must be enlarged beyond practical limits in order to embody the higher range pressures necessary for inflating vehicle tires and the like.

It is a primary object of my invention to afford an air service device of the aforementioned general nature, wherein the control mechanism thereof and the indicating mechanism thereof are so constructed and arranged that a relatively large scale may be used in a practical manner for the calibrations embodied on that portion of the indicating dial, or the like, devoted to a lower pressure range such as, for example, from zero to eight pounds, and a relatively small scale may be used in a practical manner for the calibrations embodied on the portion of the dial devoted to the higher pressure range such as, for example, from eight to one hundred pounds.

An object ancillary to the foregoing is to so construct a novel air service device of the aforementioned type that the indicating mechanism and regulating mechanism are associated with each other in a novel manner whereby the indicating mechanism is so actuated that it is operable to properly indicate the pressure setting of the device in either the low pressure or high pressure range.

It is another object of my invention to provide an air service device of the aforementioned type which is well adapted to deliver compressed air to either high pressure or low pressure receptacles and wherein both the control mechanism of the device and the indicating mechanism thereof are more sensitive in the low pressure range than in the high pressure range.

A further object of my invention is to construct an air service device in such a manner that, by manipulating a manually operable member such as, for example, a crank, an operator can readily set the device to automatically shut olf when a predetermined pressure is attained in the receptacle, and wherein, in varying of the setting of the device in the aforesaid low pressure range greater movement of the manually operable member is required to vary the setting of the device a predetermined amount than is required when varying the setting of the device the same predetermined amount in the aforesaid high pressure range.

Another object of my invention is to provide an air service device of the aforementioned type embodying a suitable indicating device having indicating mechanism such as, a dial and a pointer, or the like, wherein movement of the movable portion of the indicating mechanism in the low pressure range is greater for each pound of pressure variation than is movement of the movable portion for a corresponding pressure variation in the high pressure range.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel regulating mechanism for controlling the operation of air service devices of the aforementioned character.

Another object of my invention is to construct an air service device of the aforementioned type which embodies novel mechanism for controlling the size of the charges of air fed successively to receptacles to be inflated.

Yet another object of my invention is to construct an air service device embodying novel mephanism which is operable in a novel and expeditious manner to control the feeding of charges of air to a receptacle so that air may be fed to a low pressure receptacle in smaller charges than it is fed to a high pressure receptacle.

A further object of my invention is to construct a novel air service device embodyin novel airflow control mechanism which is so constructed, and is so associated with the other mechanism embodied in the air service device that, when the air service device is adjusted to feed air to a lowpressure receptacle, the aforesaid control mechanism is automatically rendered efiective to cause the feeding of air to the receptacle to be accomplished in charges of one size and when the air service device is adjusted to feed air to a highpressure receptacle, the aforesaid control mechanism is automatically rendered effective to cause the feeding of air to the receptacle to be accomplished in charges of another size.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel air service device of the aforementioned type which is both practical and eflicient in operation, and which can be economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an air service device embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational View of the device shown in Fig. l, with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a rear elevational view showing another modified form of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of a valve shown in Fig. '7

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the hose connection shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View showing a modified form of regulating mechanism adapted to be included in an air service device embodying the principles of my invention; and

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing another modified form of regulating mechanism adapted to be included in an air service device embodying the principles of my invention.

General description of the air service device shown in Figs, 1 to 3, inclusive In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings is shown an air service device 28 illustrating a preferred form of my invention and embodying improvements over the air service devices of the same general character heretofore known, such as, for example, air service devices of the type disclosed in the United States Letters Patent No. Re. 19,201 granted to A. Penn on June 5, 1934, and United States Letters Patent No. 1,918,612 granted to A. Penn on July 8, 1933.

The air service device 20, shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is of the type primarily adapted for use in service stations for servicing automobiles, and the like, and comprises a device whereby compressed air may be fed in a series of relatively short successive charges from a suitable source of compressed air to a receptacle such as, for example, an automobile tire, to thereby fill the receptacle with air to a predetermined pressure, and which, when the pressure in the receptacle reaches the aforesaid predetermined pressure, will automatically shut off so that the device is thereupon rendered inoperative to feed more air to the receptacle. For this purpose my novel air service device comprises, in general,

the following major parts: an air service line or hose 22 for feeding compressed air to a receptacle to be inflated; a supply line 24 for feeding compressed air to the service line from a suitable source of compressed air such as, for example, a compressor, pressure tank, or the like; a supply valve 26 interconnected between the service hose 22 and the supply line 24 to control the flow of air into the service hose 22 and, therefore, into the receptacle to be inflated; actuating mechanism M for directly controlling the operation of the supply valve 26; indicating mechanism I for visually indicating the receptacle pressure at which the air service device is adapted to shut off; a pressure responsive unit P and regulating mechanism R connected to the actuating mechanism M for controlling the operation of the latter, the regulating mechanism ffording a novel drive for the indicating mechanism I whereby the indicating mechanism is more sensitive to changes in settings in the lower pressure ranges than in the upper pressure ranges; and control mechanism C operatively interconnecting the pressure responsive unit P with air service line 22 and operable in a novel and expeditious manner to control the rate of flow of compressed air therebetween to thereby control the frequency of operation of the pressure responsive unit P as will be presently discussed in greater detail.

Construction and operation of the air service device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive The supply line 24, embodied in the air service device 26 shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, comprises any suitable type of line such as, for example, a tube or air hose and is connected at one end to a suitable source of compressed ir such as, for example, a tank T, and has the other end thereof connected to one end of the supply valve 26 by a coupling 34, Fig. 3. The other end 21 of the supply valve 26 has external threads formed thereon and extends through one wall 36 of a casing 28 and is held in position thereon by two nuts 38 and 39 screwed on to the aforesaid external threads. The casing 28 affords a housing within which are mounted the regulating mechanism R and the actuating mechanism M as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The supply valve 26 comprises a body member 42 within which is formed a valve seat 44. A valve member, having a valve head 46 and a valve stem 48, is mounted in the body 42 of the supply valve 26 with the valve stem 48 extending through the valve seat 44. A spring member 56 mounted in the valve body 42 is effective to urge the valve head 46 toward the valve seat 44. A longitudinally extending passage 52 and a transversely extended passageway 53 are formed in the body member 42 and are interconnected with each other in the valve seat 44.

The supply line 24 is connected to one end of the passageway 52 in the valve 26, and one leg 56 of a substantially T-shaped fitting 51 is connected to the outer end of the transverse opening 53 by a suitable coupling member 55. Another leg 59 of the fitting 51 is connected to the service hose 22 by a suitable coupling 6|, and, as will bediscussed in greater detail hereinafter, the third leg 63 of the fitting 51 is connected by a coupling member 65, a diaphragm valve 61, and a coupling member 68 to the pressure responsive unit P. The fitting 51, the coupling members 65 and 68, and the diaphragm valve 61 comprise the control mechanism C as will be discussed pres- Thus it will be seen that, the valve 26 affordseffective means for controlling the flow of compressed air from the supply line 24 to the air service line 22, the control mechanism C and the pressure responsive unit P, the flow being controlled by movement of the valve head 46 relative to the valve seat 44.

The control mechanism M is effective to control opening and closing of the valve 26. For this purpose a plunger 16 is slidably mounted in, and extends longitudinally through, the end portion 21 of the valve 26, the plunger 16 extending through a packing gland 12 in the valve 26 which i effective to seal the valve around the plunger 16 so as to prevent the leakage of air therepast. The outer end portion of the plunger 16 is connected to a lever 14 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 16 carried by the casing 28. Two pins 18 and 19 mounted on a wall 8| of the casing 28 afiord stop members engageable with one end portion of the lever 14 to limit rotation thereof on the pin 16. Oscillation of the lever 14 between the two pins 18 and 19 is effective to reciprocate the plunger in the valve body 42 suiiiciently to alternately move the plunger into and out of engagement with valve stem 48 to thereby alternately force the valve head 46 off the valve seat 44 and permit the valve head 46 to be pressed against the valve seat 44 by the spring 56 and the pressure of the air in the supply line 24.

To effect such oscillation of the lever 14, an actuating lever 82 is provided in the air service device 26 and forms a part of the actuating mechanism M. The actuating lever 82 is pivotally mounted on a pin 84 carried by the casing 29 and is substantially L-shaped, having two legs 86 and 81. A roller 89 is rotatably mounted on a pin 99 carried by the leg 81. An arm 9| is mounted between the lever 14 and the actuating lever 82, having one end portion extending through a slot formed in the actuating lever 82 and resting on the roller 89, and having the other end portion connected to the lever 14 by a pin 92 which extends through an opening 94 in the lever 14. A substantially V-shaped cam 96 having two cam surfaces 98 and 99 projects from the arm 9| and is in engagement with the roller 89. A coil spring |6| connected between the arm 9| and the stoppin 19 yieldingly holds the arm 9| in engagement With the roller 89 and is effective to yieldingly urge the arm 9| to the left as viewed in Fig. 3.

When the actuating lever 82 is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the roller 89 is in engagement with the surface 98 of the cam 96, the arm 9| is effective to hold the lever 14 in engagement with the stop pin 18, in which position it is eifective to press the plunger 16 into engagement with the valve stem 48 to thereby unseat the valve head 46 and open the valve 26. However, upon rotation of the actuating lever 82 in a clockwise direction from the position in which it is shown disposed in Fig. 3, the roller 89 will move along the cam surface 98 to the cam surface 99 of the cam 96. Thismovement of the lever 82 is sufficient to move the roller 89 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the other side of the apex of the cam 96. During such movement of the lever 82, the roller 89 is effective to first raise the lever 9| against the urging of the spring |6| during movement of the roller 89 along the cam surface 99, and then, after the roller 89 has passed the apex of the cam 96, the spring |9| becomes efiective to press the cam 96 down along the roller 89 with the surface 99 in contact with the roller to thereby move the arm 9| to the left,

7. as viewed in Fig. 3, and cause the lever 14' to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Such rotation of the lever 14 in a counter-clockwise direction is eifective to withdraw the plunger II! from contact with the valve stem 48 and permit the valve head 46 to be pressed against the valve seat 44 by the action of. the spring 56 and the pressure of the air in the supply line 24, to thereby close the valve 26. Upon reverse rotation of the lever 82, that is, upon rotation thereof in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the cam surface 99 rides up on the roller 89 as the roller moves toward the apex of the cam 96, to thereby raise the arm SI, and then, after the roller 89 moves past the apex of the cam 96, the spring IflI becomes efiective to press the cam 96 downwardly along the roller 89 with the surface 98 in engagement with the roller to thereby move the arm 9| to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. This latter movement of the cam 9| is effective to cause the lever 14 to rotate in a clockwise direction to thereby press the plunger is against the valve stem 46 and unseat the valve head 46 from the seat 44, and thereby open the valve 26.

The means by which the arm 9| is connected to the lever 14, namely, the pin 92 and the opening 94, comprises a lost motion connection which is well known to those skilled in the art, the opening 94 being substantially larger than the diameter of the pin 92. The lost-motion connection is provided to insure that the arm 9I will not become bound in a dead-center position, with the apex of the cam 96 on top of the roller 89, this connection providing sufiicient free movement of the pin 92 to insure that the spring IQI will be effective to move the arm 9| sufiiciently to move the apex of the cam 96 past the roller 89.

Thus it will be seen that the actuating mechanism M comprises a snap-action for opening and closing the valve 26, the mechanism being ineifective to move the plunger II! and thereby to effect either opening or closing of the valve 26 when the roller 89 is stationary or moving toward the apex of the cam 96 and only becoming efiective to actuate the plunger 76 to thereby cause corresponding actuation of the valve 26 when the roller 89 moves past the apex of the cam 96, at which time the spring IOI becomes effective to quickly move the arm 9| and the lever 96 and, therefore, the plunger 10 to eifect proper corresponding movement of the valve head 46 and thereby open or close the valve 26. The valve 26 and the actuating mechanism M comprise elements which are, per se, old and well known to those skilled in the art, having been shown in the aforementioned Penn patents, and no claim is made to them except in so far as they form part of novel combinations embodied in my invention.

Movement of the actuating lever 82 in the aforementioned clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, as viewed in Fig. 3, is eifected through the operation of the pressure responsive unit P and the regulating mechanism R, respectively, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

The pressure responsive unit P comprises a housing I63 mounted on one end portion of the casing 28. A distensible diaphragm I65 is engaged between the housing I03 and the casing 28 and extends across one end of the housing I63 to afford a pressure chamber I66 therein. A diaphragm plate I68, having a pin I69 thereon, is mounted on the diaphragm I05 with the pin I69 extending through an opening III in the casing 28 into engagement with the leg 86 of the lever 82.

The pressure chamber I06 of the pressure responsive unit P is connected. by the couplingmember 68, the diaphragm valve 6.1, the coupling member 65, the fitting 51 and the coupling member 55, to the valve 26 and the air service hose 22 for the purpose of feeding air into and out of the chamber I66 to thereby cause flexing or distending of the diaphragm I65. Such flexing of the diaphragm I05 is effective to correspondingly move the diaphragm plate I68 and the pin I09, and thereby effect operative movement of the actuating lever 82 as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The fitting 51, the coupling member 65, the diaphragm valve 61 and the coupling member 68 comprise the novel control mechanism C which is operable, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, to control the flow of air to and from the pressure chamber I26 in a novel and expeditious manner whereby the control device 20 is automatically rendered, effective to feed air in a series of relatively small and rapid, successive charges when being used to inflate low pressure receptacles, and to feed air in a series of larger and less rapid successive charges when being used to inflate higher pressure receptacles. Details of the construction and operation of the novel control mechanism C embodied in my invention will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

As is best seen in Fig. 3, the regulating mechanism R embodied in my novel air service device 26 includes a leaf spring II3 having one end attached to the actuating lever 82 by any suitable means such as rivets I I 5, and having a connecting member II'I' afforded on the other end thereof for a purpose which will be discussed presently. An adjusting screw II9 extends through a tapped opening formed in the actuating lever 82 and affords means for adjusting the spacing of the connecting member II! from the actuating lever 82 to thereby adjust the tension of the spring II3 as will be understood by those skilled in the art. A lock-nut I20 is mounted on the adjusting screw H9 and is engageable with the actuating lever 82 to hold the screw H9 in adjusted position.

The connecting member II! on the leaf spring H3 is connected to a hook member I21 formed on one end of a tension coil spring I22 having a constant modulus of elasticity. An adjusting rod or bolt I24, mounted in the housing 28, is connected to another hook member I26 formed on the other end portion of the coil spring I22, the hook member I26 extending into a slot I29 formed in the adjusting rod I26.

The adjusting rod I24 has external threads formed thereon and is slidably mounted in and extends through an extension I3I of the wall 36 of the casing 28. A sleeve I33 having internal threads formed therein is mounted on the outwardly extending end portion of the rod I24, in engagement with the outer surface of the wall I3I, to hold the bolt I24 in outwardly extending position against the urging of the springs H3 and I22. The sleeve I33 is effective, upon rotation in one direction, to move the rod I24 outwardly to thereby increase the tension of the springs II 3 and I22 on the actuating lever 82, and is effective upon rotation in the other direction, to permit the rod to move inwardly under the urging of the spring I22 to thereby decrease the tension of the springs H3 and I22 on the actuating lever 82. A handle I-I extends from the sleeve I33 to afford means whereby an operator may readily turn the sleeve I33 to efiect such adjustment of the rod I24.

The inner end portion of the adjusting rod I24 9. extends through and is slidably mounted in an upstanding leg I42 formed on one end of a link I40. The other end of the link I40 is connected by a pin I4I to the lever 32.

A plug member I35 is screwed into the outer coils in that end of the spring I22 carrying the hook member I27, and a cap member I31 having internal threads formed therein is screwed onto the adjacent end portion of the adjusting rod I24 and is adjustable toward and away from the plug member I35 to afford an adjustable stop member for limiting the contracting movement of the spring I22. Thus it will be seen that by properly adjusting the cap member I31 on the adjusting rod I24, inward contracting movement of the spring I22 may be limited to a predetermined amount to thereby afford means for pretensioning the spring I22. This is of primary importance in connection with the operation of the leaf spring I I3 as will be presently explained.

In the preferred form of my invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the regulating mechanism R is preferably so constructed and arranged that when the adjusting rod I24 is positioned in its most inwardly extending position, the springs I I3 and I22 exert no pressure on the lever 82, the mechanism being shown in this position in Fig. 3. Outward movement of the adjusting rod I24 from the position shown in Fig. 3 may be effected by rotating the handle H as previously explained. Upon such outward movement of the adjusting rod I24, the connecting member I26 on the coil spring I22 is moved outwardly away from the lever 82 and is thereby effective to progressively increase the tension of the springs H3 and I22 on the lever 82. r

In the normal construction and operation of my novel air service device the cap member I3! is positioned on the adjusting rod I24 in such a manner that it is effective, by engagement with the plug member I35, to pre-tension the coil spring I 22 to such an extent that the initial outward movement of the adjusting rod I24, from the position shown in Fig. 3, is effective to deflect the leaf spring H3 in toward the actuating lever;

- effective to tension the spring I22 on the lever 82 without causing further deflection of the spring H3. The leaf spring H3 is of substantially less strength than the coil spring I22, so that considerably greater movement of the adjusting rod I 24 is necessary to increase the tension on the lever 82 a certain amount when the leaf spring is being deflected than is necessary subsequently, when the coil spring I22 is being extended.

The force to which the coil spring I22 is pretensioned is preferably substantially the same as the force which the leaf spring II3 exerts on the lever 82 when fully deflected inwardly. Such adjustment of the pre-tensioning of the coil spring I22 and of the deflection of the leaf spring II3 may be accomplished, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, by properly correlating the adjustments of the cap member I31 on the adjusting rod I24, and the screw H9 on the actuating lever 82.

During an outward movement of the adjusting rod I24, when the rod I24 has moved outwardly a predetermined amount, the hook member I26 engages the leg I42 of the link I40 to thereby urge the link I40 outwardly and positively hold the actuating lever 82 in valve opening position as will be presently explained in greater detail.

The indicating mechanism I is embodied in my air device 2I in a manner to afford a visual indication to the operator of the pressure to which the device is set to inflate a receptacle. The indicating mechanism I comprises a substantially circular-shaped dial D, Fig. 1, and a suitable indicating pointer S, which is mounted on the casing 28 and extends over the edge of the dial D, the dial D being rotatably mounted for rotation past the pointer S as will be discussed in greater detail presently. The outer edge portion of the dial D is preferably made of a translucent material such as a phenol-formaldehyde, resin,

and a lamp bulb I38 may be mounted on the casing 28 by any suitable means such as a bracket I39 to afford illumination for the dial D.

Suitable indicia, reading in pounds of pressure, is provided along the peripheral edge of the front face of the dial D, being preferably marked off in three ranges, namely, a low pressure 'range, 'a high pressurerange and a fullpressure range, Fig. 1.

In the operation of my device, when the handle H is turned, the peripheral edge portion of the dial D is moved along the pointer S by mechanism to be presently explained, and, when rotation of the handle H ceases, comes to rest in'a position wherein the proper indicia, showing the pressure to which the device has been adjusted by the rotation of the handle H, is positioned under the pointer S.

The low pressure range is shown on the dial D in the drawings, for purposes of illustration, as extending from zero pounds to eight pounds; the high pressure range is shown as extending from eight pounds to one hundred pounds; and the full pressure range is shown as embodying the pressure above one hundred pounds, this-latter range being entered when the link I40 has been engaged by the hook member I26 to thereby become effective to positively hold the actuating lever 82 in Valve-opening position so that the valve 26 is positively held in open position by the plunger I0 and high-pressure air may be fed continuously therethrough from the supply line 24 into the service line 22.

It will be noted that in accordance with the princi le of my invention the low pressure range and the high pressure range indicated on the dial D are calibrated according to two entirely different scales, the scale of the low pressure range being substantially twice that of the high pressure range. Thus it will be seen that, as previously discussed, the scale of the high pressure range is large enough to permit adjustment of the air service device in this range with the accuracy required for that purpose, and the scale of the low pressure range is substantially greater so as to permit adjustment of the air service device with relatively great accuracy in this lower range so that the air service device may be effectively used for inflating low pressure receptacles without danger of bursting the receptacle or unduly straining the latter by over-inflation caused by inaccurate setting of the device.

The dial D is mounted on a shaft I43 which is journaled in and supported by two partition walls I45 and I46 forming a part of the casing 28, the dial D being secured to the shaft I43 by any suit able means such as a screw I48. A pin I 5| is mounted in the adjusting rod I 24 and extends forwardly therefrom through a slot I53 formed be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

in the partition wall I46. The free end portion of the pin II is connected to a rack bar I55 which is slidably mounted on the partition wall 146. The rack bar I 55'has teeth formed thereon which are operatively engaged with a pinion gear I51 mounted on a shaft I59 which is journaled in-the two partition walls I45 and I46. A second gear IBI is mounted on the shaft I59 for rotation therewith and is intermeshed with a gear I65 fixed to the shaft I43. Thus it will be seen that upon movement of the adjusting rod I2 3 in a longitudinal direction the rack I55 is also moved and is effective,- through the train of gears I59, I6i and I 66 to rotate the shaft I43 and. therefore, the dial D a corresponding amount. The ratio of the train of gears is such, from the rack I55 to the gear I66, that movement of the ad usting rod I24 from one extreme position to the other is eifective to rotate the dial D through approximately, but just slightly less than, one complete revolution.

The dial D is properly calibrated so as to indicate the position of the adiusting rod I24, through position of the dial D with relation to the pointer S, in terms of pounds of pressure in the receptacle at which the air service device will shut off and become ineifective to permit further flow of pressure into the receptacle. The peripheral edge of thedial D is calibrated in the low and high pressure ranges, respectively, in accordance with the respective strengths of the leaf spring I I3 and the coil spring I22, the leaf spring I I3 being the only spring effective on the actuating lever 82 when the adjusting rod I24 is being moved through the low pressure range adjustment, and the coil spring I22 being effective on the actuating lever 82 when the rod I24 is being moved through the high pressure range adjustment.

Thus it will be seen that in my novel air service device the dial D may be calibrated in such a manner that normal accuracy is afiorded in adjusting the device to settings in the high pressure range. and relatively great accuracy is aflorded in adjusting the device to settings in the low pressure range.

The novel control mechanism C, by which the air service line 22 and the supply valve 26 is connected to the pressure responsive unit P comprises as previously mentioned, the fitting 51, the coupling member 65, the diaphragm valve 61 and the coupling member 68. The diaphragm valve 61, Fig. 3, comprises a valve body I15 having two legs I12 and I13 and having a passageway I 15 extending therethrough. The two legs I12 and I13 are connected to the coupling members 65 and 88 respectively and air may be fed therethrough between the two coupling members. A valve seat I11 is formed in the passageway I15 and has an opening therein in which a valve member I18 having a valve head I19 and a valve stem I80 is positioned.

A housing I82 is mounted on the side of the valve body I16 and a diaphragm I8 3 is positioned between the housing I82 and the valve body I18 and extends across one end of the housing I82 to afiord a pressure chamber I86 for a purpose to A compression spring I88 is mounted in the housing I82 outwardly of the diaphragm I84 and is effective to yieldingly urge the diaphragm I84 toward the valve member I18.

The valve stem I86 on the valve body I18 extends outwardly through an opening I96 in the valve body I18 into the pressure chamber I85 in the housing I82. A small opening or orifice I92 is formed in the valve body I10, and aiiords an 12 opening interconnecting the passageway I15 with the pressure chamber I88.

The construction of the valve 61 is such that when the pressure in the chamber I86 is below a predetermined amount, the spring I88 is effective to deflect the diaphragm inwardly to thereby press the valve member I18 upwardly out of seating engagement with the valve seat I11; and when the pressure in the chamber I86 is above a predetermined amount, the pressure exerted by the air on the face of the diaphragm I84 is efiective to deflect the diaphragm I82, against the urging of the spring I88, out of engagement with the valv member I18 to thereby free the valve member I18 for movement into seating relation with respect to the valve seat I11.

The valve head I16 has a small passageway I64 extending longitudinally therethrough and connecting with a transversely extending passageway I formed in the valve stem I86 to thereby aiiord a bleed passageway extending through the valve member I18 between the legs I 12 and I13.

In the normal operation of my air service de vice 26 the air in the air supply line 2 3 is, atall times, under a relatively high pressure, being connected to a compressor or tank which supplies air to the valve 26 at considerably higher pressure than that to which it is proposed to inflate any receptacle. The air chuck on the end of the air service line 22 is normally closed when the air service device 2:; is not connected to a receptacle so that the air present on the outlet side of the valve head 22, namely, the air in the service hose 22, the control mechanism C, and the pressure chamber I66, is trapped therein.

Operation of the air service device shown in Figs. 1-3

In a normal high-pressure operation of th air service device 26, such as, for example, when the device is used to inflate an automobile tire to thirty-five pounds pressure, the operator first turns the handle H to the position whereat the pointer S indicates the numeral 35 on the dial D, this movement of the handle H being effective to properly tension the springs I I3 and I22 in the regulating mechanism R as previously explained.

If, when the air service device 28 is adjusted in this manner, the pressure trapped in the chamber I66 of the pressure responsive unit P is insufiicient to hold the lever 82 against the urging of the regulating mechanism R, the latter is effective to turn the lever 82 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, to thereby open the valve 26. Such opening of the valve 26 permits air to fiow from the supply line 24 into the air service hose 22 and the control mechanism C under relatively high pressure, and, the air chuck on the outlet end of the service hose 22 being closed, the air flows through the diaphragm valve 61 into the leg I13, the coupling member 68 and the pressure chamber I86 to thereby raise the pressure therein. When the pressure in the chamber I66 builds up sufliciently to overcome the springs H3 and I22, the lever 82 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, to thereby cause the valve 26 to close with a snap-action, as previously explained, the air in the service hose 22, the control mechanism C and the pressure chamber I66 being trapped thereby.

The spring I88 is preferably of such strength that during operations of my novel air service device 20 to inflate receptacles to pressures of less than eight pounds the pressure in the leg I13 of the valve 61, and, therefore, in the chamber I86, is insuflicient to overcome the action of the Spring I88 and, therefore, the valve member I78 is held in unseated position as previously explained; but during operations wherein my novel air service device is used to inflate receptacles to pressures greater than eight pounds, the air pressure in the leg H3 and, therefore, the chamber I86 is sufiicient to overcome the action of the spring I88 and thereby permit the valve member I18 to seat. Thus, it will be seen that when the pressure in the control mechanism and the chamber I06 is sufficient to cause valve-closing actuation of the lever 82, as above discussed, the valve member I78 is maintained in seated relation on the valve seat I 11 during flow of air from the fitting 5'! to the chamber I06, so that such flow is relatively slow, being through the small passageways I 94 and I95. In this manner I provide an effective means for controlling the frequencyof operation of the actuating mechanism M of my device, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

With the relatively high pressure air trapped in the air service hose 22, the control mechanism C and the pressure responsive unit P as aforementioned, the chuck on the end of the service hose 22 may be connected to the receptacle to be inflated. The connecting of the chuck to the receptacle causes the chuck to be opened and thereby opens the air service line 22 and permits the air under pressure therein to flow into the receptacle to thereby lower the pressure in the air service hose 22. The valve 26 being closed, the reduction of pressure in the service hose 22 causes the air in the chamber I06 of the pressure responsive unit P to unseat the valve member I18 and flow rapidly toward the air service hose 22 to thereby reduce the pressure in the chamber I06. The reduction of pressure in the chamber I06 permits the regulating mechanism R to rotate the actuating lever 82 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, thereby causing the actuating mechanism M to move the plunger I0, with a snap action, as previously explained, into the valve 26 to unseat the valve head 44.

With the valve 26 open, air flows under pressure from the supply line 24 through the valve 26 into the fitting 51, from whence part of it fiows through the air service hose 22 into the receptacle being inflated and the other part thereof flows through the coupling member 65 into the diaphragm valve 01, pressing the valve member I78 into seating engagement with the valve seat I". As the pressure in the leg I'I2 of the diaphragm valve increases, air is forced through the small bleed openings I94 and I95 into the leg I'I3 from whence it flows through the coupling member 68 into the pressure chamber I06, increasing the pressure in the chamber I06 sufliciently to press the diaphragm I05 and the pin I09 upwardly to thereby rotate the actuating lever 82 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, against the urging of the regulating mechanism R, and thereby cause the actuating mechanism to move the plunger I0 outwardly from the valve 26 with a snap action, as previously described, to thereby permit the valve 26 to close.

When the valve 26 closes in this manner, the service hose 22 is still connected to the receptacle so that, assuming the pressure in the receptacle is still low, the air again flows from the service hose 22 into the receptacle, reducing the pressure in the service hose and fitting 51 and thereby inducing the air in the chamber I06 to again unseat the valve member I10 and flow toward the fitting 51 and air service hose 22, thereby reducing the pressure in the chamber I06, permitting the regulating mechanism R to again rotate the actuating lever 62 in a counter-clockwise direction to again open the valve 26 and permit another charge of air to be fed through the service hose 22 into the receptacle being inflated.

This cycle of alternately building up and lowering the pressure in chamber I06 is repeated over and over again until finally the pressure in the receptacle is increased to such a point that one of the times, when the diaphragm I05 moves the actuating lever 82 to valve-closing position and the valve 26 snaps shut, the pressure in the receptacle is sufficiently high that, although the air chuck is still connected thereto, sufficient flow of air does not take place from the service hose into the receptacle to reduce the pressure in the chamber I06 sufficiently to permit the actuating mechanism to be moved by the regulating mechanism R to effect another air feeding operation of the valve 26 and, thus, the air service device is automatically shut off.

Obviously in the operation just described, the flow of air from the fitting through the relatively small passageways I94 and I95 into the chamber I06 is considerably slower than the reverse flow, namely from the chamber I06 toward the fitting 51, during which the valve member I18 is unseated to aiford a relatively wide passageway through the seat I'II. As a result, the time during each cycle of operation of the valve 26, when the pressure in the chamber I06 is being built up and air is being fed from the supply line through the service hose 22 into the receptacle, is considerably longer than the remainder of the time in the cycle, during which the pressure in the chamber I06 is being depleted by the air flowing therefrom through a relatively large opening past the unseated valve member I78 toward the fitting 51. Thus it will be seen that during an operation of my device, air is being fed to a receptacle during the greater proportion of the time, although it is being fed in a series of relatively short successive charges.

A restriction I9? is mounted in the fitting 51, adjacent to the service hose'22 which serves the dual purpose of preventing excessive charges of air being fed from the fitting 51 through the hose 22 each time the valve 25 is opened and also causes relatively high pressures to be built up in the fitting 57 for feeding air to the chamber I06. The size of the fitting is so proportioned in accordance with the size of the passageways I94 and I95 and the size of the opening in the valve seat III, that charges of the proper size are fed to the receptacle being inflated, the size of charge I prefer to feed to a high pressure receptacle such as an automobile tire being two to two and one-half pounds, and the charges I prefer to feed to low pressure receptacles being considerably smaller as will be presently discussed.

When my novel air service device is to be used to inflate a so-called low pressure receptacle, that is, according to the dial D shown in Fig. 1, a receptacle intended to be inflated to eight pounds pressure or less, the operator turns the handle H toset the indicating mechanism 1 to the proper pressure indication. This, it will be remembered causes the rod I2 3 to move to a position wherein the actuating lever 83 is not acted upon by the coil spring I22 but is acted upon solely by the relatively light leaf spring H3, so that the pressure opposing the pressure responsive unit P is relatively small and, therefore, relatively little pressure is required in the chamber I06 to actuate the diaphragm I65 and, therefore, the actuating lever 82.

After the air service device has been properl set in the aforementioned manner, by manipulating the handle H, the air chuck on the end of the service hose 22 may be connected tothe receptacle to be inflated. The compressed air that was trapped in the service hose 22 and controlmechanism C, as previously discussed, may then flow through the air chuck into the receptacle. However, in this instance, the air pressure in the chamber I06 must be reduced to a relatively low pressure before the light spring H3 is effective to move the actuating lever 82. Thus, it will be seen, that the air pressure in the chamber I75 will drop relatively low before the regulating mechanism R. will become effective to move the actuating lever 32 in a valve-opening direction, and, as a result, air Will be bled from the pressure chamber I86 outwardly through the orifice I92 to thereby reduce the pressure in the chamber I86. The spring I88 then becomes effective to hold the diaphragm upwardly against the valve stem I88 and maintain the valve member I'IB unseated during flow of air in both directions through the diaphragm valve 6?.

When the air in the chamber I06 falls to a sufficiently low pressure, the regulating mechanism R. causes the actuating lever 82 to move in a counter-clockwise direction to thereby effect the aforementioned snap-action opening of the valve 2E5. Air then flows through the valve 26 into the fitting from which a portion of the air flows through the air service hose 22 into the receptacle being inflated and another part flows through the control mechanism C to the pressure chamber I66 to again build up pressure in the chamber I55 and cause the pin I09 to turn the actuating lever in a clockwise or valve-closing direction and thereby effect closing of the valve 26. However, in this instance, it will be noted that the spring I88 is effective to hold the valve member I18 open, the air pressure above the valve I18 and the pressure in the chamber E86 not being high enough to over-power the spring I88, so that the air flows rapidly through the control mechanism C, as compared to the flow through the restriction I91 into the service hose 22, and, therefore, the pressure in the chamber IE6 is quickly raised to effect closing of the valve 26.

Thus it will be seen that, with my novel air service device adjusted to inflate a low-pressure receptacle the flow of air both to and from the pressure chamber I05, through the control mechanism P, is relatively rapid with the result that each cycle of operation of the supply valve 26 is relatively short, and air is fed to a low pressure receptacle in relatively small charges. I prefer to so construct my device and so proportion the size of the restriction I91 to the size of the effective openings through the valve seat IT! and the other parts of my novel device, that air is fed to a low pressure receptacle in charges of approximately one-half pound. In

this manner I insure that the low pressure re- '16 ceptacles may be relatively accurately inflated and. protect the receptacle against dangerous over inflation.

If desired, an audible signal may be provided on my device in the same manner that such a signal is provided on the aforesaid Penn Patent No. Re. 19,201. Such a signal may comprise a bell 21E) mounted on the casing 28, Fig. l, and a striker 2T2 pivotally mounted on the casing 28 by a pin 273. A pin 2'55 mounted on the lever 54 and projecting outwardly through an opening 277 in the casing 23, is effective to actuate the striker to thereby cause the bell 210 to ring each time the lever is is moved in a valve-closing direction.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a novel air service device that is Well adapted to inflate both high and low pressure receptacles.

Also it will be noted that I have provided a novel air service device; wherein relatively small charges of air may be fed to a low pressure receptacle and relatively large charges of air may be fed to a high pressure receptacle in a novel and expeditious manner; wherein a novel indicating mechanism, having the high and low pressure ranges thereof calibrated in two different scales, may be embodied in a novel and expeditious manner to afford exceptionally accurate readings in the low pressure range; wherein a novel regulating mechanism is embodied; and wherein a novel control mechanism is embodied.

Modified form shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive The modified form of my novel air service device illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 embodies a novel control mechanism, other parts of the air service device being substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the principal diiference between the two forms being in the construction and mode of operation of the control mechanisms thereof. Parts embodied in the air service device shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 which are the same as corresponding parts embodied in the air service device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, are indicated by the same reference numerals with the suffix a added thereto.

As is best seen, in Fig. 4 the air service device 29a, like the air service device 29, comprises an air supply line 24a connected through a supply valve 26a and a fitting 51a to a service hose 22a. Actuating mechanism Ma for controlling the opera-tion of the supply valve 25a is embodied in a casing 23a and is operated by regulating mechanism Ba and a pressure responsive unit Po, the regulating mechanism Ra, actuating mechanism Ma and pressure responsive unit Pa being substantially the same in construction and operation as corresponding mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 3, hereinbefore discussed.

Control mechanism Ca is embodied in the air service device 26a for the same purpose that the aforementioned control mechanism C is embodied in the air service device 28. The control mechanism Ca comprises a valve Zilii which is similar in construction to the supply valve 25a, having an elongated valve body 2E2 within which is formed a valve seat 2%. The valve stem 2% of a valve member 2d? extends through the valve seat 264 and is longitudinally reciprocable in the latter. A valve head 2119 is mounted on one end portion of the valve stem 2% and is movable thereby into and out of engagement with the valve seat 234 upon reciprocation of the valve stem 206.

The control valve 200 is connected by a suitable coupling member 65a to the fitting 51a, and the valve head 209 is urged toward engagement with the valve seat 204 by the action of a coil spring 2 and the pressure of the air in the coupling member 65a.

Another coupling member GM has one end connected to the valve 289 on the opposite side of the valve head 209 from the coupling member 65a, and the other end thereof is connected to the pressure chamber 106a of the pressure responsive unit Pa to thereby interconnect the pressure responsive unit Pa with the valve 200.

A substantially L-shaped lever 2 I is pivotally mounted on a pin 2 I! carried by one wall of the casing 28a. The lever 2I5 has two legs 220 and 22I, the leg 22I depending from the pin 2 l1 into engagement with the valve stem 206 of the valve member 201, and the other leg 220 resting on the pin [5M carried by the adjusting rod 124a of the regulating mechanism Rd.

The leg 220 of the lever 2 l5 has an outwardly projecting cam 223 formed thereon which is so formed, and is so positioned, relative to the regulating mechanism Ra that the pin [5m is in engagement therewith when the adjusting rod [24a is in position to adjust the air service device 20a to a pressure within the low pressure range. When so engaged with the cam 223, the pin ISIa is effective to hold the lever 2 l5 in such position that the leg 22l thereof is in engagement-with the valve stem 206 of the valve member 201 and holds the valve head 269 out of seating engagement with the valve seat 204.

The cam 223 is so constructed and arranged on the leg 220 that, when the adjusting rod l24a occupies a position wherein the device 2&0. is adjusted to a pressure within the high pressure range, the pin I5 I a is out of engagement with the cam 223 and the lever 215 is, therefore, free to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to thereby permit the air pressure in the coupling member 65a, and the spring 2 I l, to press the valve member 201 into seating engagement with the valve seat 204, the leg 22! of the lever 215 being swung thereby outwardly away from the valve 200.

Like the air service device 20 shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the air service device 200:. shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, operates to feed air in a series of successive charges from the air supply line 24a through the valve 26a, the fitting 51a and the air service hose 22a to a receptacle to be inflated, the regulating mechanism Ru. and the pressure responsive unit Pa operating, through the actuating mechanism Ma, to alternately open and close the valve 2%. The valve 200, although somewhat different in specific details of construc-' tion and operation from the diaphragm valve 61 embodied in the air service device 20, is basically the same in operation and serves the same purpose. Thus it will be noted that when the air service device is operating to inflate a high pressure receptacle and, therefore, the regulating mechanism Ra is correspondingly adjusted, the valve head 209 is seated on the valve seat 204 so that air flow from the coupling member 65a to the pressure chamber 106a of the pressure responsive unit must pass through the relatively small passageways [94a and l95a in the valve member 201 and is, therefore, relatively slow, but the flow from the pressure chamber I06a back to the fitting 51a is effective to unseat the valve head 209 from the seat 204 to thereby afford a relatively'large'opening and permit relatively rapid reverse flow of'the air. In this manner, when the valve 26a is closed and the pressure fallsin the air service hose 22a, the air pressure in the chamber l06a is permitted to fall relatively rapidly to thereby efiect operation of the actuating mechanism to quickly'open the valve 26a, and'thereafter, the pressure in the chamber liliia is built up relatively 'slowly to effect operation of the actuating mechanism Ma in the reverse direc-' tion to close the valve 26a. Thus it will be seen that, like the valve 26 in the air service device 20,

the valve 26a" is open the major portion of the time when a high pressure receptacle is being inflated and the charges fed to the receptacle are relatively large, being preferably between two and two and one-half pounds.

However, it will be noted that when the air service device 20a is adjusted to properly inflate ing a receptacle inflating operation so that the valve 26a is opened andclosed by the actuating mechanism Ma in relatively shortcycles and, therefore, relatively small charges of air are fed from-the'air service device 20a to the low pressure receptacle being charged, these charges beingpreferably about one-half pound each for receptacles to be inflated to pressures between zero and eight pounds.

From the foregoing it will be seen that themodifled form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, comprises a novel air service deviceembodying novel means for controlling the rate at which charges of air aresuccessively fed to low and high pressure devices,the rate-controlling means being under the positive control of the regulating mechanism Ra'rather than under the indirect control thereof as is the diaphragm valve 61 embodied in the air service device 20.

' Modified form shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 Another modified form of my novel air. service device is illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. This latter air service device includes a modified form of the novel regulating mechanisms shownin Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. I

Many of the parts shown in Figs? to 9, inclusive, are substantially the same as the parts shown in the air service devices illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, and parts shown in the Figs. '1' to 9 whichare the same as parts previously discussed are indicated by the same reference numerals with the sufl'ix b added thereto.

In the air service device 20b, shown in Figs. 7 to 9, inclusive, air is fed from a supply line 24b through a supply valve 26b, a coupling member 65b, a fitting 5112, a service hose 22b and an air ceeds that in thechamber 1 06b. When the'prese sure in the chamber 06b is in excess of that, in the'fitting 51b the restriction valve 230 is moved thereby out of engagement with the valve seat 233 to afford a relatively unobstructed passageway through the leg 63b for the outward flow of air from the chamber I06.

In the operation of the air service device 20b the operator turns the handle Hb so as to prop-.- erly adjust the novel regulating mechanism Rb, which will be discussed in greater detail presently, to thereby urge the actuating lever 82b to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed, in Fig. 7, which is in a direction opposite to that in which the pressure responsive unit Pb is effective to urge the same. As previously described with respect to the air service; devices 20and20a, when the air service device 20b hasv been properly adjusted to infiatea receptacle, and the air chuck 23 has been connected to the receptacle,v the air service device is efiective to alternately build up and reduce the pressure invthe, chamber Gb tothereby effect alternate clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the actuating lever 82b. Such oscillation of the lever 82b is effective, through operation of the actuating mechanism Mb, to alternately open and close the valv 26b to thereby-cause air to be fed in successivecharges from the air supply line 24b through the. air service hose 22b into the receptacle being charged.v

During such anoperation it willbe noted that the restriction valve 230 alternately opens and closes to thereby permit relatively unrestricted fiow of air outwardly from the, chamber 40Gb when the pressure in the chamber is being reduced, but to permit only relatively slow flow of air into the chamber [06b when the pressure in the chamber is being increased, so that, like the valve 26 and 26a, the, valve 26b is held, open. during the major portion of the time that a receptacle inflating operation is, being carried outvand, hence, inflation of the receptacle is accomplished relatively quickly even though air is fed thereto intermittently. However, it will be noted thatin the air service device b shown in Fig, 7, no control mechanism, such as, the control mechanisms C and Ca shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, is embodied for varying the flow of air into, and out of the pressure chamber 10Gb in accordance with the-pressure range in whichthe airservi-ce device 20b is set'to operate.

The regulating mechanism Rb, embodied in the a-ir'serv-ice device 20b-shown in-Fig; '7', comprises an adjusting rod |24b having a longitudinallyextending cylinder-shaped opening 301 formed'in one endthereof. The outer end portion ofthe opening 30! has -threads-303-formed thereinwhich are operatively engaged with corresponding threads formed on the peripheral edge portion of a nut 305 mounted in-the opening 301.

A plunger 30! having an enlarged head 31 I formed thereon is sl-idably mounted in; the passageway 301-, the peripheral edge portion of the head 3H engaging the inner surface of the side walls of the passageway 30l to guide the-plunger 301 in its sliding movement.

A bolt 308 extends through, andis operatively engaged with, the nut 305, and is adapted to be moved through the nut 305 toward and away-from the closed end 310' of the passageway '30I', to thereby afford, adjustable. means for limiting movement of the plunger 301. A look nut. 309' mounted on the bolt 308 is operable to engage the adjacent end of the rod I241) to hold thebolt 308 in adjusted position in the customary manner,

A compression coil-spring 3I3 ismounted in the-passageway 30! between the head 3 andthe nut 30,5, and is eifective to urge the plunger-301 toward the inner end portion of the passageway A slot 315 extends transversely through the adjusting rod l24b in alignment with the portion of the passageway 30] adjacent the inner end 310, and a hook member I2Ei-b' formed on oneend portion of a coil spring I222) extends through the slot, 315 and is operatively engaged with and held by the head 3| l on the plunger 30?.

Another hook member I211) formed on the other end portion of the coil spring [22b is connected to theactuating lever 32b to thereby complete the connection of the coil spring [22b be-- tween the adjusting rod i242; and the lever 82b.

The parts of my novel regulating mechanism Rb are so constructed and arranged that when the adjusting rod [24b is disposed in its most inwardly extending position, wherein relatively no pressure is exerted by the regulating mechanism R-b on the actuating mechanism Mb, the compression spring 3l3 is effective to hold the plunger 301 in its most inwardly disposed position, in, which position the hook member I23b on the spring i221) is held in engagement with the end 310 of the passageway 30 I.

In the operation of an air service device 20b, when the adjusting rod 12% is moved outwardly from the most inwardly extending position thereof, the initial movement is effective to cause increased tension of the coil spring I221) on the actuating lever 82b and therefore on the plunger 301. This increase of tension on the plunger 30! causes the plunger to move outwardly relative to the passageway 30I to thereby increase the compression of the spring 3i3 between the head 3 and the nut 305. Thus, it will be seen that during this initial movement, the effective tension of the coil spring [22b on the lever 32b is increased only the amount that the compression of the spring M3 is increased and, the strength of the compression spring 3l3 being relatively low, the increase in tension of the regulating mechanism Rb on the regulating member 82b is performed at a relatively low rate during the initial movement of the adjusting rod l24b. Upon completion of the initial movement of the rod I241), the plunger 30? engages the bolt 308 to thereby positively hold the hook member [23b from further movement through the slot 315 toward the nut 305 and, thereafter, outward movement of the rod I24b is effective todirectly increase the tension of the relatively StlOllgi spring I22b so that the tension of the regulating mechanism Rb may be increased at a relatively high rate during the remaining movement of the rod IZtb. The bolt 398 is movable through the nut 395 toward and away from the end are of the opening 30! to thereby afford adjustable means for determining the extent of movement of the plunger 307', as previously discussed, and, therefore, is operable to determine the pressurerange through which the spring 3I3 is effective to determine the pressure exerted by the spring i221) on the lever 82b.

Thus it will be seen that as in the forms of my invention previously described initial movement of the adjusting rod I241? outwardly from its most inwardly extending position is efiective to increase the urging force of the regulating mechanism Rb on the lever 82b at a relatively slow rate, whereas, after this initial movement of the adjusting rod I24 is completed, further movement of the adjusting rod is effective to increase the 21 urgingforce of the regulating mechanism Rb at a relatively greater rate. Therefore it will be seen that the novel indicating mechanism I shown in Fig. 1 may be embodied in the air service device 20b in the same manner that it is embodied in the previously discussed air service device 20' and is equally effective therein.

In the operation of the air service device 26b, as in the operation of the previously discussed air service devices 29 and 20a, the handle Hb isrotated by the operator to set the regulating mechanisms Rb at the proper adjustment which, as previously discussed, is determined by the setting of the indicating mechanism used onthe device. The air chuck 23 may then be connected to the receptacle to be inflated, which, as previously discussed, causes the air pressure in the service hose 22b to be lowered and thereby causes the air to flow from the pressure chamber I06b outwardly through the valve 230 to thereby cause lowering of the pressure in the chamber H161) and permit the regulating mechanism Rb to move the actuating mechanism Mb in a valve opening direction and thereby effect opening of the valve 26b.

With the valve 26b open, 'air flows from the service line 24b through the valve 26b, the connecting member 65b, the fitting 57b, and the service hose 22b into the receptacle being inflated. At this time, air also flows through the relatively small opening 23I in the restriction valve 230 into the pressure chamber IIlBb to thereby raise the pressure in the chamber Il6b and, when this pressure is again high enough to overcome the regulating mechanism Rb, causes the actuating mechanism Mb to be actuated in a valve-closing direction to thereby efiect closing of the valve 26b.

It will be seen that outward flow from the pressure chamber I66b past the unseated valve 236 is at a relatively greater rate than the inward flow into the chamber I06b through the relatively narrow passage 23I of the then seated valve 230, so that the valve 26b is maintained in opened condition through the relatively greater portion of a cycle of operation thereof.

If desired, a restriction IB'Ib, similar to the restriction- I91 embodied in the air service device 20, may be mounted in the leg of the fitting 51b to which the air service hose 22b is connected. Such a fitting causes relatively reduced flow into the air service hose 22b so that a relatively small amount of air is permitted to flow intothe receptacle connected to the hose 22b during each time the valve 26b is opened. In an air service device, such as the air service device 29b, wherein no control mechanism such as the control mechanisms C and Ca, previously discussed, are embodied, I prefer to proportion the restriction I9Ib and the restriction valve 230 in such a manner that air is fed into the receptacle being inflated in relatively small charges of approximately one-half pound each in both the high and low pressure ranges.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, if desired, my regulating mechanism Rb may be embodied in an air service device including a control mechanism such as for example my novel mechanisms C and Ca, without departing from the purview of my invention. In such an instance, the device may be so constructed and arranged that, like in the devices and 20a, when the device is set for the low pressure range, air is fed to the receptacle in relatively small charges in approximately one-half pounds,

22 and when the device is set in the high pressure range, air is fed to the receptacle in relatively large charges of two to two-and-one half pounds.

Modified form shown in Fig. 10

Another modified form of regulating mechanism adapted to be used in any of the air service devices heretofore discussed, is shown in Fig. 10. Many of the parts embodied in this modified form of my regulating mechanism are substan tially the same as the parts embodied in the forms of regulating mechanisms previously dis cussed and parts shown in Fig. 10 which are the same as parts previously discussed are indicated by the same reference numerals with the s-ufiix 0 added thereto.

The regulating mechanism R0 includes a ten sion coil spring I220 having one end portion connected to an actuating lever 8'20 by a hook member I210 and the other end portion thereof connected to an adjusting rod I240 by a hook member I260. The hook member I260 extends through a slot I290 formed in the adjusting rod I240 and is engaged with a collar member 403 mounted on the adjusting rod I240.

The collar member 403 has a slot 405 formed therein through which extends a pin 406, the pin 406 projecting outwardly from the body of the adjusting rod I240. The pin 406 and the slot 465 aiford guide means for controlling and limiting sliding movement of the collar 403' on the adjusting rod I240.

A compression spring 2360 is mounted between the collar 403 and a flange 401 formed on the inner end portion or the adjusting rod I240 and is effective to urge the collar member 403 away from the lever 820. When the adjustingrod I240 is in its most inwardly disposed position the inner end portion thereof, which comprises an abutment member 409 adjustably mountedi-n the end portion of the adjusting rod I240, is engagement with the actuating lever 820, and the com.- pression spring 2360 is effective to hold the hook member I260 in position in that end of the slot I290 positioned furthest from the actuating lever 820.

When the adjusting rod I240 is moved out wardly'to increase the tension of the actuating mechanism B0 on the actuating lever 820, the initial movement of the adjusting rod I240 is effective to increase the tension of the spring I220 on the actuating lever 62c and thereby in-' crease the tension of the spring- I220 onthe collar 403. During this initial movement of the ad justing rod I240, the increased tension of the spring I220 is effective to cause the collar 403 to slide along the adjusting rod I240 toward the actuating member 820 against the urging of the compression spring 2360, until the pin 406 abuts the inner end of the slot 405-. Thus it will be seen that, until the pin 406 abuts'the inner end of the slot 405 the effect of moving the rod I24c outwardly is distributed" between the springs I220- and 2360 so that the resultanteifecton the spring I220, and, therefore, on the lever 820, is less than if the spring I220 were connected directly to the rod I240.

After the pin 466' abuts the inner end of the slot 405, further outward movement ofthe ad justing rod I240 is effective to increase the tension of the spring I220 without further'compressing the spring 23Eic.

Thus it will be seen that, as in the other formsof regulating mechanism heretofore discussed, movement of the adjusting rod [240 in the low.

23 pressure range is effective to increase the tension of the regulating mechanism Be on the actuating lever 820 at a slower rate than is movement of the adjusting rod I240 in the high pressure range.

Modified form shown in Fig. 11

Another modified form of regulating mechanism, adapted to be used in any of the air service devices heretofore discussed, is shown in Fig. 12. Many of the parts embodied in this modified form of my regulating mechanism are substantially the same as parts embodied in the forms of regulating mechanisms previously discussed, and parts shown in Fig. 11 which are the same as parts previously discussed are indicated by the same reference numerals with the sufiix d added thereto.

The regulating mechanism Rd comprises two tension coil springs HM and 422 which are connected between an actuating lever 82d and an adjusting rod I24d movable relative thereto.

One end of the coil sprin I 22d is connected to the actuating lever 8211 by a hook member l2'ld, and the other end thereof is connected to the adjusting rod l24id by a lost motion connection comprising a hook member |26d formed on the coil spring [2201 and an elongated slot l29d formed in the adjusting rod I24d.

The other coil spring 422 is connected between the adjusting rod H411 and actuating lever 8201 by hook members 423 and 426, respectively, the hook member 423 engaging a plate member 424 mounted on the end of the spring i22d from which the hook member 121d projects, and the "hook member 426 being connected directly to the inner end portion of the adjusting rod I24d.

When the adjusting rod l24d is in full inwardly disposed position relative to the actuating lever 82d, tension on the spring I22d is completely released and the hook member l26d is disposed in the end of the slot l29d which is furthest away from the actuating lever 82d. Thus it will be seen that when the adjusting rod i24d is moved outwardly from the afore-mentioned position, the tension on the coil spring I22d is not increased during the initial movement because of the lost motion connection between the adjusting rod (24d and the spring 22d. However, during this initial movement of the adjusting rod l24d, the tension on the spring 422 is increased. The spring 422 is relatively light so that during this initial movement of the adjusting rod [24d the pressure exerted thereby on the lever 82d is increased at a relatively slow rate.

Upon the completion of this initial movement of the adjusting rod l24d the free movement in the st motion connection between the adjusting rod I24d and the coil spring |22d is taken up so that, thereafter, outward movement of the adjusting rod l24d is effective to increase the tension on both the spring [2201 and the spring 422 and, thus, during this further outward movement of the adjusting rod l24d, the tension of the regulating mechanism Ed on the actuating lever 82d is increased at a relatively higher rate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a novel air service device which may be readily constructed and which is eflicient and practical in operation.

Furthermore, it will be apparent from the foregoing description that the mechanism of the present invention represents a marked advance over other types of corresponding mechanisms heretofore known, such as, for example, that embodied 24 in the air service devices shown in the United States Letters Patent Nos. Re. 19,201 and 1,918,612 which have been referred to hereinbefore.

Also it will be noted that the present invention accomplishes its intended objectives some of which have been referred to hereinbefore, and others of which will be apparent from the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an air service device of the type adapted to feed air from a source of compressed air into a receptacle, means for feeding compressed air, a valve in said means for controlling the passage of air therethrough, and means for alternately effecting opening and closing of said valve to thereby permit the passage of air in a. series of successive charges through said first named means, said last named means comprising actuating means connected to said valve and movable through two alternate control operations to control the opening and closing of said valve, pressure sensitive means connected to said firstnamed means for the reception of air therefrom and responsive to air pressure in said first mentioned means for moving said actuating means through one of said control operations, regulating means for moving said actuating means through the other of said control operations, said regulating means being connected to said actuating means in yielding opposition to said pressure sensitive means, an adjusting member connected to said regulating means and movable through a predetermined range of movement to vary the force with which said regulating means opposes said pressure sensitive means, said adjusting member being movable toward and away from said actuating means in said range of movement and being effective during movement through one portion of said range to eifect variation of said force of said regulating mechanism at one rate and during movement through another portion of said range to effect variation of said force of said regulating mechanism at another rate, and means connected to said pressure sensitive means for controlling the passage of air from said first mentioned means to said pressure sensitive means in accordance with the position of said adjusting member in said range of movement.

2. In an air service device of the type adapted to feed air from a source of compressed air into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding compressed air, a valve in said means adapted to be opened and closed to thereby permit and prevent the passage of air through said means, actuating means operatively connected to said valve and movable into two positions to control the opening and closing of said valve, respectively, said valve being movable into open position to permit the passage of air through said first mentioned means when said actuating means occupies one of said two positions, said valve being movable into closed position to prevent the passage of air through said first mentioned means when said actuating means is in the other of said two positions, means including regulating mechanism and pressure sensitive mecha- 'nism for alternately moving said actuating means to each of said two positions to effect alternate opening and closing of said valve and thereby effect feeding of air in aseries of charges through said first mentioned means, means for feeding air from said first mentioned means to said pressure sensitive mechanism, said pressure sensitive mechanism being operable when the pressure of the air fed thereinto exceeds a predetermined pressure to move said actuating means to said other position, said regulating mechanism comprising resilient means connected to said actuating means and yieldingly urging said actuating means to move toward said one position in opposition to said pressure sensitive mechanism, adjusting means for varying the urging force of said regulating resilient means and therefore of said regulating mechanism on said actuating means, said adjusting means comprising an adjusting member connected to said resilient means and movable through one adjusting range to vary the urging force of said resilient means at one rate and through another range to vary the urging force of said resilient means at another rate, and means for controlling the frequency at which said valve is opened and closed during an operation of the device, said last named 'means comprising a second valve connected in said means for feeding air to said pressure sensitive mechanism, said second valve being operable to be fully opened and partially closed to thereby control the passage of air through said last mentioned means, and means connected to said second valve for controlling the opening and closing of the latter in accordance with the position of said adjusting member in said two ranges.

3. In a receptacle-inflating apparatus of the type adapted to permit air to pass into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding compressed air, a control valve in said means for controlling the passage of air therethrough, actuating means connected to said valve and movable through control operations to control the opening and closing of said valve, pressure responsive means operatively associated with said actuating means, said pressure responsive means being inter-connected with said first named means to receive air under pressure therefrom and being operable by air received from said first named means to effect movement of said actuating means through a control operation, and regulating means operable to control said movement of said actuating means by said pressure responsive means, said regulating means comprising a regulating unit connected to said actuating means for resisting the action of said pressure responsive means on said actuating means, and a manually operable member connected to said regulating unit and movable through a predetermined movement for varying the resistance of said regulating unit to said action of said pressure responsive means, said regulating unit comprising two spring members operatively associated with each other and each operable to urge said actuating means and said manually operable member in opposite directions relative to each other during a movement of said manually operable member through said predetermined movement, said two spring members being associated with said manually operable member and said actuating means in such a manner that the force with which one of said springs urges actuating means and said manually operable member in opposite directions relative to each other is varied throughout a full movement of said manually operable member through said predetermined movement, the forc with which the other of said springs urges said actuating means and said manually operable member in opposite directions is varied throughout only a fractional portion of a full movement through said predetermined movement, and a second valve for varying the rate of flow of air to the said pressure responsive means, the second valve .being under control of an actuating element correlated to relatively low and relatively high pressures in the said responsive means whereby the second valve is maintained in a completely open position during flow of air into the said pressure responsive means at relatively low pressure therein.

4. In a receptacle-inflating apparatus adapt-ed topermit air to pass into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding air, a control valve connected in said means for controlling the passage of air therethrough, pressure responsive means connected through a line to said first named means, actuating means operable by said pressure responsive means for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, and regulating means operable to control the operation of said actuating means by said pressure responsive means, said regulating means comprising two spring members and an adjusting member, both of said springs being connected between said actuating means and said adjusting member and effective to urge said actuating means and adjusting member in opposite directions relative to each other, said adjusting member being movable through a predetermined range toward and away from said actuating means to vary the force with which said two springs urge said adjusting member and actuating means in opposite directions, movement of said adjusting member being effective throughout said range to vary the force with which one of said spring members urges said adjusting member and actuating means in said opposite directions, movement of said adjusting member being effective throughout only a fractional portion of said range to vary the force with which the other of said spring members urges said adjusting member and said actuating means in said opposite directions, and a second valve in the said line for varying the rate of flow of air to the pressure responsive means, and a control element for the second valve adapted to maintain the second valve in a fully open position under conditions of relatively low pressure in the pressure responsive means.

5. In a receptacle inflating device of the type adapted to feed air into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding compressed air, a control valve in said means for controlling the passage of air therethrough, pressure responsive means connected to said first mentioned means, an actuating member connected to said valve for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said actuating member being movable by said pressure responsive means in a valve controlling operation, a spring connected to said actuating member for resisting said movement thereof, a second spring resisting said first mentioned spring, an adjusting member for varying the resistance of said springs, said adjusting member being movable relative to said actuating member and adapted upon movement to vary said resistance of said springs, said adjusting member being efiective to vary said resistance of said first mentioned spring through a greater range of movement than it is effective to vary said resistance of said second spring,and a second valve for varying the rate of flow of air to the said pressure responsive means, and a control element for the second valve correlated to relatively low and relatively high pressures in the said pressure responsive means.

6. In a receptacle-inflating device, means for feeding compressed air, a valve connected to said means for controlling the flow of air there- 'through, means including an actuating member for opening and closing said valve, said actuating member being movable into two positions, said last named means being operative to open said valve when said actuating member is moving toward one of said positions and effective to close said valve when said actuating member is moving toward the other of said positions, a pressure sensitive member connected to said first-mentioned means and responsive to the pressure in said first mentioned means to urge said actuating member toward said other position and to hold said actuating member in said other position when the pressure in said first mentioned means exceeds a predetermined pressure, a regulating member for determining said predetermined pressure, said regulating member being connected to said actuating member and operable thereon to yieldingly resist the urging of said pressure sensitive member on said actuating member, said regulating member comprising resilient means for urging said actuating member toward said one position, and an adjusting member operatively connected to said resilient means and movable through a predetermined range of movement toward and away from said actuating member, said adjustin member being efiective throughout said range of movement to vary the urging force of said resilient means on said actuating member and being effective during movement through a predetermined portion of said range of movement to vary the urging force of said resilient means on said actuating member at a difi'erent rate than in the remaining portion of said range of movement, and a second valve for varying the rate of flow of air to th said pressure sensitive member, and means controlling the second valve, said last-named means being correlated to relatively low and relatively high pressures on the said pressure sensitive member.

7. In an air service device, means for feeding compressed air, a valve in said means and operative to be opened and closed to thereby control the flow of air through said means, means including a movable lever for opening and closing said valve, said last mentioned means being effective to open said valve when said lever is in one position and being effective to close said valve when said lever is in another position, a pressure sensitive member connected to said lever and responsive to positive pressure in said first mentioned means for urging said lever toward said other position, and a regulating member connected to said lever for resisting the urging of said pressure sensitive member on said lever, said regulating member comprising a rod member movably mounted for movement toward and away from said lever, a tension spring member connected between said rod member and said lever for urging said lever toward said one position, a piston member slidably mounted in said rod member for movement toward and away from said lever, said piston member being operatively engaged with said tension spring member, means limiting movement of said piston member toward and away from said lever, and

a compression spring urging said piston member away from said lever to thereby tension said tension spring member on said lever.

8. In an air service device, means for feeding compressed air, a valve mounted in said means and adapted to be opened and closed to thereby control the fiow of air therethrough, means including a movable lever for opening and closing said valve, said last named means being effective to open said valve when said lever is in one position and being eflfective to close said valve when said lever is in another position, a pressure sensitive member connected to said lever and responsive to positive pressure in said discharge line for urging said lever toward said other position, and a regulating member connected to said lever for resisting the urging of said pressure sensitive member on said lever, said regulating member comprising a rod member movably mounted for movement toward and away from said lever, a tension spring connected between said rod member and said lever for urging said lever toward said one position, an abutment member carried by said rod member and reciprocable therealong, said abutment member being operatively connected to said tension spring, said tension spring being effective to urge said abutment member to move along said rod in one direction, means limiting movement of said abutment member along said rod member, and a compression spring operatively engaged between said rod member and said abutment member and efiective to yieldingly urge said abutment member to move in the other direction along said rod in opposition to the urging .of said tension spring, said rod member being effective upon movement toward and away from said lever to vary the urging force of said tension spring on said lever and said abutment member.

9. In a receptacle inflating device of the type adapted to permit air to pass into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding air, a control valve in said means, pressure responsive means connected to said first mentioned means, an actuating member connected to said valve for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said actuating member being movable by said pressure responsive means in a valve controlling operation, an adjusting member manually movable toward and away from said actuating member, an elongated coil spring having one end fastened to said actuating member and the other end fastened to said adjusting member, said adjusting member being operable during movement away from said actuating member to effect tensioning of said spring between said adjusting member and said actuating member in opposition to the urging of said pressure responsive means, an abutment member mounted for reciprocation on said adjusting member, means limiting the reciprocation of said abutment member, said abutment member having an end portion extending toward said actuating member, a stop member on said adjusting member, and a compression spring mounted between said stop member and said end of said abutment member for urging said abutment member away from said actuating member, said compression spring being effective to hold said abutment member in engagement with said other end of said coil spring to thereby urge said other end of said coil spring away from said actuating member to thereby ten sion said coil spring on said actuating member.

10. In a receptacle inflating device of the type adapted to permit air to pass into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding air, a control valve in said means, pressure responsive means connected to said first mentioned means, an actuating member connected to said valve for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said actuating member being movable by said pressure responsive means in a valve controlling operation, an elongated tension spring for yieldingly resisting movement of said actuating member by said pressure responsive means, said tension spring having a connecting member afforded on each end thereof, one of said connecting members being engaged with said actuating member, an elongated adjusting member for adjusting the tension of said spring on said actuating member, said adjusting member being movable relative to said actuating member for effecting adjustment of the tension of said spring, said adjusting member having a longitudinally extending opening formed therein and a transversely extending opening formed therein and interconnecting with said longitudinally extending opening, the other of said connecting members extending into said transverse opening, said other of said connecting members being reciprocable a predetermined distance within said transverse opening longitudinally of said adjusting member during a portion of an adjusting movement of said adjusting member, an abutment member reciprocably mounted in saidfirst mentioned opening and operatively engaged with said other connecting member for holding said connecting member in said opening, a retaining member on said adjusting member, said retaining member being positioned on the other side of said abutment member from said other connecting member, a compression spring mounted in said longitudinally extending opening between said abutment member and said retaining member, said compression spring being under compression between said abutment member and said retaining member to yieldingly hold said abutment member in engagement with said other connecting member and to yieldingly urge said other connecting member away from said actuating member.

11. In a receptacle inflating device of the type adapted to permit air to pass into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding compressed air, a control valve in said means, pressure responsive means connected to said first mentioned means, an actuating member connected to said valve for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said actuating member being movable by said pressure responsive means in a valve controlling operation, an elongated tension spring for yieldingly resisting movement of said actuating member by said pressure responsive means, said tension spring having a connecting member afforded on each end thereof, one of said connect ing members being engaged with said actuating member, an adjusting member movably mounted relative to said actuating member for adjusting the tension of said spring on said actuating mem r said a justing mem r havin an p ing extending transversely therethrough, the other one of s id connecting members exten ing into said transverse opening, said other of said connecting members being reciprocable a predetermined distance within said transverse opening longitudinally of said adjusting member during a portion of an adjusting movement of said adjusting member, an abutment member carried by said adjusting member, said abutment memher being reciprocable along said adjusting member and operatively engaged with said other con.- necting member for holding said other connecting member in said opening, a retaining member on said adjusting member, said retaining member being positioned on the other side of said abutment member from said other connecting member, a compression spring carried by said adjusting member and mounted between said abutment member and said retaining member, said compression spring being under compression between said abutment member and said retaining member to yieldingly hold said abutment member in engagement with said other connecting member, said compression member urging said other connecting member in one direction in said opening in opposition to the urging of said tension spring.

12. In a receptacle inflating device of the type adapted to permit air to pass into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding compressed air, a control valve in said means, pressure responsive means connected to said first mentioned means, an actuating member connected to said valve for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said actuating member being movable by said pressure responsive means in a valve controlling operation, an elongated tension spring for yieldingly resisting movement of said actuating member by said pressure responsive means, said tension spring having a connecting member afforded on each end thereof, one of said connecting members being engaged with said actuating member, an adjusting member movably mounted relative to said actuating member for adjusting the tension of said spring on said actuating member, said adjusting member having an opening extending transversely therethrough, an abutment member mounted on said adjusting member, said abutment member being reciprocable a predetermined distance along said adjusting member and operatively engaging the other one of said connecting members for connecting the latter to said adjusting member, a retaining member on said adjusting member, a second spring member operatively connected between said retaining member and said abutment member for urging said other connecting member away from said actuating member to thereby tension said elongated spring on said actuating member, said adjusting member being movable through an adjusting range to vary the urging force of said elongated spring member on said actuating member and to vary the force of said second spring member on said other connecting member, movement of said adjusting member being effective to vary said urging force of said elongated spring member throughout said adjusting range and being effective to vary said urging force of said second spring throughout only a fractional portion of said adjusting range.

13. In a receptacle inflating device of the type adapted to permit air to pass into a receptacle in successive charges, means for feeding compressed air, a control valve in said means, pressure responsive means connected to said .first mentioned means, an actuating member connected to said valve for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said actuating member being movable by said pressure responsive means in a valve controlling operation in response to pressure in said first mentioned means, an elongated tension spring yieldingly resisting movement of said actuating member by said pressure responsive means, an adjusting mem- 

